Gregs Pinto Beans Refried Beans Recipes

REFRIED PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Cook 4 chopped bacon slices and 1 chopped onion in olive oil over medium heat, 7 minutes. Add 1/2 cup chopped cilantro, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 minced seeded jalapeno and 1/2 teaspoon each ground cumin, dried oregano and kosher salt. Cook, stirring, 5 minutes. Add two 14.5-ounce cans pinto beans (drained and rinsed) and 2 1/2 cups water. Cook, mashing, 7 minutes. Stir in more cilantro and hot sauce.

REFRIED BEANS (BETTER THAN STORE-BOUGHT)

Steps:

• There is no need to soak the beans for this recipe. Rinse the dried beans then add to a large pot. Add the onion half, garlic cloves, bay leaf, and cilantro sprigs. Cover with at least 3 inches of water. Place the pot over high heat and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until the beans are extremely tender (almost silky inside), 1 1/2 to 2 hours. If during cooking the beans look dry, add a splash more water.
• Remove the onion, garlic cloves, bay leaf, and cilantro sprigs, and then discard them. Season the beans and liquid with salt. Start with 1/4 teaspoon and go from there based on your tastes.
• Drain the beans, but do not discard the cooking liquid. We will use some of the liquid for making the refried beans. You will need about 3 cups of the beans to make refried beans. If you have more than 3 cups, reserve the rest for another recipe.
• There is no need to soak the beans for this recipe. Rinse the dried beans then add to a 6-quart pressure cooker (we have an Instant Pot). Add the onion half, garlic cloves, bay leaf, and cilantro sprigs. Add about 6 cups of water, but do not fill past the 'max fill line.' Add 1 teaspoon of neutral oil like vegetable or olive oil (this prevents the beans from foaming).
• Seal the lid and cook on High Pressure for 30 minutes, and then allow the cooker to naturally release (you can tell when it is safe to open the cooker when the steam release valve drops). We recommend you read the user manual of your specific pressure cooker before using this method.
• Remove the onion, garlic cloves, bay leaf, and cilantro sprigs, and then discard them. Season the beans and liquid with salt. Start with 1/4 teaspoon and go from there based on your tastes.
• Drain the beans, but do not discard the cooking liquid. We will use some of the liquid for making the refried beans. You will need about 3 cups of the beans to make refried beans. If you have more than 3 cups, reserve the rest for another recipe.
• In a large, skillet - a cast iron pan is perfect here - heat the oil (or butter/lard/bacon drippings) over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and cook, stirring often, until it smells sweet and is starting to brown around the edges, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in the minced garlic, cumin, and cayenne pepper and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Add the 3 cups of cooked beans, moving them around the pan for a minute or two so that they are heated through. Add 1 cup of the bean cooking liquid and then use a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon to mash the beans into your desired consistency.
• If, as you are mashing, the beans seem a little dry, add a splash more liquid. The beans do dry out over time, so it's a good idea to keep the cooking liquid near by to maintain the best consistency, especially if you are making them in advance.
• Taste the beans and adjust with additional salt, pepper or spices. Serve with a squeeze of lime and your favorite toppings scattered on top.
• Use 2 (15-ounce) cans of pinto or black beans. Two cans will be approximately 2 3/4 cups of beans, which is close enough to 3 cups for this recipe.
• Open the cans, drain, and then rinse the beans. Follow the recipe instructions in the section labeled 'Make Refried Beans' above, but replace the 3 cups of home-cooked beans for canned beans. Instead of using the bean cooking liquid for thinning the refried beans, you will need to substitute for another liquid. We recommend using a flavorful stock (vegetable stock or chicken stock), you will need 1 to 1 1/2 cups.

QUICK AND EASY REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Heat canola oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat.
• Cook garlic cloves in hot oil, turning once, until brown on both sides, 4 to 5 minutes.
• Smash garlic cloves in skillet with a fork.
• Stir pinto beans, cumin, chili powder, and salt into mashed garlic and cook until beans are thoroughly heated, about 5 minutes. Stir occasionally.
• Smash bean mixture with a potato masher to desired texture. Squeeze lime juice over smashed beans and stir until combined.

REFRIED PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Add the beans, reduce the heat to a simmer, cover and cook, skimming occasionally, approximately 1 1/2 hours. To test for doneness, taste 3 or 4 of the smaller beans. They should be cooked through and creamy inside. Mash, along with the liquid in the pot, with a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon until creamy.
• Heat the lard or other fat in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Saute the onions with the salt and pepper until golden brown, about 10 minutes. Add the mashed beans and continue cooking, stirring occasionally, until the liquid evaporates and the beans form a mass that pulls away from the sides and bottom of the pan, about 10 minutes. Serve immediately. Refried beans can be kept in the refrigerator 3 or 4 days and reheated in a covered casserole in a 350 degree oven.

GREG'S PINTO BEANS - REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• Mash and cook chorizo in a medium sauce pan over medium-high heat until lightly browned, about 3 minutes.
• Drain half of the liquid out of the cans of beans (or leave undrained, but it will take longer cooking to thicken). Add partially drained beans to the browned chorizo; stir well. Stir in 3 small fresh chile peppers (whole).
• Bring beans to a boil over high heat; reduce heat to medium-high. Stirring occasionally, let beans continue to cook for 10 to 20 minutes, or until liquid begins to thicken. When beans begin to thicken, mash beans in the pot with a potato masher, leaving some beans whole.
• Reduce heat to medium; continue to cook and stir occasionally, until beans have thickened to your preferred consistency, about 5 minutes longer.
• When done, remove the chili peppers. Stir in a dash of garlic powder and a splash of corn oil, if desired. Stir in cubed cheese and remove from heat.
• Serve warm, with a dollop of sour cream if desired.

20 MINUTE SKILLET REFRIED BEANS

Steps:

• In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add diced onion and saute for 4-5 minutes or until onion is translucent.
• Add garlic to melted butter and onions and saute for another minute.
• Add pinto beans (don't wash and drain them first - just dump in the whole can), cumin, chili powder and cayenne powder to skillet. Cook for about 5 minutes or until beans are heated through.
• Using a potato masher, mash beans until they become the consistency that you prefer (my husband likes them completely smooth while I prefer them to be a little chunky. You could also put the beans in a blender to make them super smooth).
• If desired, top with some shredded cheese and fresh cilantro.

REFRIED PINTO BEANS

Steps:

• Fry bacon in a medium sized skillet until just crispy. Remove bacon from the skillet and set aside until cool enough to break into tiny pieces.
• Pour off most of the bacon grease, leaving the bottom of the skillet well coated. Return the bacon pieces back to the skillet on low heat.
• Using a slotted spoon, scoop the beans into the pan. Reserve liquid.
• Add garlic and onion powder.
• Mash all contents, adding reserved liquid until desired consistency is reached.
• Add salt and pepper to taste.
• Stir in cheese.